Loose-leaf binder



Sept. 6,1927. 1,397

W. S. PROUDFIT ET AL LOOSE LEA F BINDER Fil'ed June 14,- 1924 2Sheets-Sheet l E n r Sept' 6, 1927.

W. S. PROUDFIT ET AL LOOSE'LEAF BINDER Filed June 14,1924

2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

until sir as I 1, 41,397 PATENT OEEIC EX.

WILLIAM s. rnonnnir, onwnnznn TOWNSHIP, xnntrconnry, nn nnwnnnr. Gear,on enanzo arr os, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS'TQPQQUDEIQLOOSE LEAr Yoo, A

ooRron irIonorivi cnrenn.

Application filed June 14,

Our invention relates to a loose leaf binder of the type known as postbinder, and the objects of our invention are, first, to provide a singlepostextending-through a perforationin the leaves which, in combinationwith a plurality of enterior bearing points for the leaves, will retainthem in alignment; second, to provide a second hinge for the cover toenable swinging the binding edge of the cover out of the plane of theleaves; third, to provide novel, adjustable corner guides for theleaves; fourth, to make a novelly constructedib-inding edge; fifth, tomake a novel adjustable post; sixth, to provide a convenient method forassembling the various parts. and other features to become apparent fromthe description to follow. r

In loose leaf binders of this class it is desirableto have only one postto penetrate the leaves; to have a simple means for retaining the leavesin alignment; to have the binder so constructed that the binding edge ofthe cover can b'e'swung out of the plane of the assembled leaves; tohave the several parts-of the binder permanently connected together sonone of the parts can be mislaid; to make the binding edges of thefront. and backcovers ofmetal plates spaced apart to accommodate rivetsand working parts; and to make an adjustable-post; all these desirablefeatures are embodied inour invention. I

To describe our invention so that others versed in the art to which itpertains can niake and' use the same we'ha've illustrated it ontheaccompanying two sheets of drawforming a part of this specification, andin which: I

Figure 1', is a view in elevation of the back of a loose leaf binder embdying our invention in a closed position witlrleaves therein, partlysimilar view with the leaves removed and the binder in an open position;Fig. 3, isan elevation of the same viewed from the front or inner sidewith the binder in an open position and with the cover swung baclrout ofthe plane of' the leaf carrying portion; Fig. 1,, is a sectional viewtaken on l1ne4-4 of Fig. 1, withthe leaves shown by broken lines; Fig.5, is a sectional view taken on linen-t of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, is asectional view taken on line 66 of'Fig.3,-; Fig; 7', is

broken away; Fig. 2, is a LO OSlE -LEAF BINDER.

1924. Serial No. 719,977.

a sectional view taken on line. 7.-7 ofFig. 1; and Fig. 8, is a detailsectional view showing the spring pressedcatch which cooperates with thepost of; the binder- Similar reference characters refer] to similarparts throughout. the several views. The front cover 10 is attached tothe binding edge 11 by means of a hinge of flexible material 12,- andthe rear cover '13 is attached to thebinding edge 14;;by, means of ahinge of flexible material 15. The bindlng edge, 11 is permanentlyconnected to the binding edge 14:; by means of extensible cornerguideseach comprising a fixed section 16and a' movable section 17.

The sections 16 are rigidlyconnected ateach end of the binding edge 1e,by lugs 18, extending through pertforationsdn the metal plate 19 andbentor rivetedagainst. the opposite side of the plate. The sectionsl'iare.arranged: to slide 'freely on the sections 16 and are limited in theirmovement inboth directions by thepin and; slot; connection 20. Thebinding. edgeill ispivotally: connected near each end as at 21; to thesections 17 by means of a hinge piece 22 which may be integral; with themetalplate 23'. As clearly shown in Figs. 5-and 6-,.the bindingedge 14is made up of two metaleplates 1,9 and 2 1, and'the binding edge 11 is:made up of the two metal plates 23' and 25; and the two plates of; eachbinding edge 11 and 14 are spaced apart and riveted together as shown inFig 6. The spacing apart of the two metal plates is accomplished bypressing out a plurality of circular bosses 26, on one of the plates tocontact with its 'cooperating plateor a plurality of circular bosses maybe pressed out of both plates of each pair of plates and arranged sothat the bosses 26 on one plate will contact with, the bosses 26" on theopposite plate.

From the description thus; far given it is clear that thebinding edgellcan befplaced in any one of the three positions relative to the bindingedge 1. 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 7'; Figs. 2 and 5, or-Figs. and 6. InFigs. 1 and, 7 the binding edge 11 is, in what may be. termed the closedposition, i. e.,as close as it can be: to the binding. edge 14,; in Fis. 2- and 5 the corner-guides; are extendfrom the binding edge 14; asfar as possible,

post 30 extends.

tilted on its hinge 21 to an edgewise position.

Each leaf 28 or sheet of paper as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1,is provided with a perforation 29, through which the binding As shown inFig. 7, the outer shell of the post 30 has at one end the inwardlyextending flange 31 which is interiorly threaded at 32 and is tightlyclamped against the plate 19 by means of the screw 33', the head ofwhich is between the plates 24 and 19. The screw 33 extends within thepost 30 a sufficient distance to serve as an adjusting means for theinner telescoping sleeve 34 of the post, the sleeve 34 being providedwith internal "threads at 35 to fit the screw 33, so that thepost can beadjusted to any desired length by turning the sleeve 34. The upperprotruding end of the sleeve 34 is provided with an annular groove 36which co-operates with a sliding spring pressed. latch 37 mountedbetween the plates 23 and 25 of the binding edge 11, and held yieldinglyin engagement with the annular groove 36 by the spring 37' being kept inposition by suitable guides 38, as shown in Fig. 8. The head of thesleeve 34 is rounded so that the latch 37 may be pressed down upon it,causing the spring 37 to yield and permit the latch 37 to snap intoengagement with the groove 36. The latch 37 is provided with a suitablefinger piece 39 which projects'through a slot in the plate 25 so that itcan be disengaged from the groove 36 at will.

In operation'the binder is placed in an open position as shown in Figs.3 and 6, the

required number of perforated leaves or sheets of paper are threadedover the post 30 and laid-flat on the cover 13,-the cover is thenswungdown about the pivot 21 on top of the pile of paper leavesparallel. to the cover 13 with the top end of the post 30 extendingthrough the perforation '40 in the binding edge 11, see Figs. 1 and 7,with thelatch 37 in engagement with the groove 36. Prior to closing thecover 10 the threaded inner shell 34 is adjusted upon the screw 33 sothat its head will be at the proper height to engage the latch 37 andhold the clamping parts 11 and 14 closely against the paper leaves. Whenthus used either cover 10 or 13 can be swung on its flexible hinge 12 orto any desired position. To remove or insert a'leaf the latch 37 isproperly manipulated by means of the finger piece 39 to disengage thelatch from the groove 36, this will permit moving the cover 10 with itsbinding edge 11 upward to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and tomake it very convenient to strip the re quired leaves up off of the postthe cover lOwith its binding edge 11 is swung back on the pivot 21 outof the path of the leaves as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. After the de sirednumber ofleaves have been withdrawn or inserted the cover 10 with itsbinding edge 11 is again replaced to the closed position as shown inFigs. 1 and 7.

The sections of the corner guides comprisover edges 41, so that whensections 17 are extended the leaves opposite sections 17 will contactwith the ribs 42 and register accurately with the leaves oppositesections 16. The post 30 in combination with the bearing points 41 and42 holds the leaves of the leaf body securely and accurately inalignment.

One edge of each of the plates 19, 23, 24 and 25 forming the bindingedges '11 and 14 of the covers is preferably bent at an angle to thebody of the plate to increase the strength of the same.

While we have shown the section 16 and 17 forming the corner guides madeangular in cross section, these may be made as fiat bars or posts andserve the same purpose. *1

and that portion positioned at the ends of the leaf body may bedispensed with, espe cially in small binders. 7

It will be understood thatthe size, shape and arrangement of the partsmay be changed without in the least departing from the scope of ourinvention. 7

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: x

1. In adevice of the class described, two covers, a post connected toone cover and detachably connected to the other cover, guides connectingsaid covers, each of said guides comprising two connected members, oneof said members havingits edge bent around the edge of the other member,and said other member having a raised rib lying in the same plane assaid bent edge.

2. In adevice of'the class described, two covers, a post connected to.onecover. and detachably connected to the other cover, guides connectingsaid covers, each of said guides comprising two slidably connectedmembers, one of said members having its edge bent aroundv the edge ofthe other member, and said other member having a raised rib lying in thesame plane as said bent edge.

3. In a device of the class describedytwo covers, leaves provided with aperforation, an adjustable post extending through the said perforationrigidly connected to one cover and detachably connected to the othercover, and adjustable guides secured to the covers adapted to contactwith the edges of the leaves and hold them in alignment, each of saidguides comprising two slidably con nected members, one of said membersbeing connected to one cover and the other of said members beingconnected to the opposite cover, and one of said members having its edgebent around the edge of the other mem-' ber and said other member havingraised ribs lying in the same plane as said bent edge.

4. In a device of the class described two covers, a post connected toone cover and detachably connected to the other cover, guides connectingsaid covers, each of said guides comprising two slidably connectedmembers, one of said members being rigidly connected to one cover andthe other of said members being pivotally connected to the other of saidcovers.

5. In a device of the class described, two covers, a post connected toone cover and detacliably connected tothe other cover, guides connectingsaid covers, each of said covers being provided with a binding edgecomprising two plates provided with bosses adapted to rigidly spaceapart said plates.

6. In a device of the class described, two

covers, a post rigidly connected to one of said covers, and detachablyconnected to the other of'said covers, the said post comprising an outershell, a screw extending within said shell an interiorly threaded sleeveadapted to cooperate. with said screw, guides connecting said covers,each of said guides comprising two slidably connected members, one ofsaid members being rigidly connected to one cover and the other of saidmembers being pivotally connected with the other of said covers.

7. In a device of the class described two covers one of which isprovided with an orifice near its binding edge, a post with a roundedhead, and an annular groove adjacovers, each of said guides comprisingtwo I slidably connected members, one of said members being rigidlyconnected to one cover and the other of said members being pivotallyconnected to the other of said covers.

8. In a device of the class described two covers, a post connectedto'one cover and detachably connected to the other cover, guidesconnecting said covers, each of said guides comprising two connectingmembers, one of said members being rigidly connected to one cover andthe other of said members being pivotally connected to the other of saidcovers, and one of said members having its edge bent around the edge ofthe other member, and said other member having a raised rib lying in thesame plane as said bent edge.

9. In a device of the class described, two covers each being providedwith a binding edge comprising two plates, one of said plates havingbosses pressed out of it to contact with the other of said plates torigidly space apart said plates, a post rigidly connected to one coverand detachably connected WILLIAM S. PROUDFIT. EDWARD F. 'GRAF.

